The legendary Oto SE receives its first major technical revision in decades, featuring bespoke in-house components and a redesigned power supply.
Audio Note (UK) proudly announces the introduction of the Oto SE 35, described as “a significant update to one of the most enduring integrated amplifiers in the high-end audio landscape. The release marks 35 years of continuous production for the Oto, which has been a cornerstone of the Audio Note (UK) range since its debut in 1991.”
The Oto was originally conceived by Audio Note founder Peter Qvortrup and designed by Andy Grove. It was the first amplifier to be fully developed and manufactured in-house by Audio Note (UK). “Although the Audio Note name was already well known thanks to the legendary Ongaku integrated amplifier, the Oto proved that the company’s philosophy of musicality and vacuum tube design could also be successfully applied at a more accessible price point,” according to the announcement distributed by Mafico Pro. Which, admittedly, they already shared earlier this year—but still, worth repeating…!
Class A
The Oto SE 35 is a Class A, parallel single-ended pentode design using an EL84 output valve. Since 1991, this model has remained one of the most popular amplifiers in the high-end segment, thanks to its reliability and exceptional sound quality.
Peter Qvortrup explains: “When I set Andy the challenge to design a single-ended (SE) pentode version of the Oto in the early 90s, single-ended amplifiers were still something of an outlier. The Oto, and now the Oto SE 35, stand as a testament to our philosophy of timeless, high-quality audio design. We still maintain and service our customers’ Oto units, ensuring they continue to perform for years to come. That is what true longevity means. And that will never change.”
Chief designer Andy Grove adds: “Over the past three decades, the design of the Oto has undergone various evolutions. I felt it was time to give the Oto SE a complete makeover. The result is an amplifier with a more realistic ‘bass kick’—the kind of physical presence you feel when you are in the same room as a kick drum or bass guitar. It remains an all-round musical and easy-to-live-with amplifier, but it can now also deliver a serious amount of attitude when the recording demands it.”
The Oto SE 35 integrated amplifier (and the P1SE 35, the stereo power amplifier version of the Oto SE) are available to order immediately through all authorized Audio Note (UK) dealers.